A farmer from Co Cork has pleaded guilty to the destruction of significant natural habitats near Doneraile in the north of the county.
Daniel Finn, of Tevenie, Dromina, Co Cork, appeared before Judge Colm Roberts at Mallow District Court. The prosecution against Mr Finn was taken by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
Prosecuting counsel Paula McCarthy BL said it was alleged that Finn, a farmer in his 70s, had deliberately cleared trees and shrub-land and other habitats at Stream Hill, Doneraile, Co Cork, on dates between March, 1st, 2023, and August 31st, 2023.
Giving evidence, prosecution witness Claire Deasy, a National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) conservation warden, said she first visited the site at Stream Hill on April 27th, 2024, shortly before 1pm.
Ms Deasy said it was immediately evident that significant clearance of trees and shrubs had taken place, including native woodland and hedgerows. She told the court that the protection of native woodland was of particular importance because only 2 per cent of such woodlands remained in Ireland.
She said the site had a stream running through it that fed a special area of conservation a short distance downstream and was adjacent to the Ballyhoura Mountains Special Area of Conservation. She told the court that in total some 250 mature and semi-mature trees had been knocked and uprooted.
According to Ms Deasy, a combined total of 3.7 hectares of vegetation including scrub and trees had been removed from the site, as well as the significant destruction of aquatic and fisheries habitat in a natural watercourse known to support salmonids.
She added that there was also the removal and destruction of approximately 350m of river habitat along the banks of the stream and the removal of significant amounts of linear hedgerow.
Ms Deasy told the court that when she questioned Finn about his activities, he told her he was “improving the land for agriculture.” She told the court that Finn was asked to stop his activities at the site twice while investigations were ongoing, but there was still evidence he was clearing vegetation in late July.
Defence solicitor Marie Ford said that Finn had been cooperative at all times, had no previous convictions and had not subsequently committed any offences. She said he was a man in his 70s who was “very apologetic” and “now realised the full extent of the seriousness of the situation.”
Judge Colm Roberts said that in the circumstances he would probably have to convict Finn. He said that the maximum penalty was a fine of €5,000 and if he were to consider dealing with the matter by way of a donation to an environmental charity, the figure would need to be higher than that.
The judge said: “He’s an experienced farmer, he took a risk and he got caught. It’s impossible to believe that a farmer of his age can lived in blissful ignorance of the Wildlife Act for all these years. This was extensive and reckless, he knew what he was doing, it was barbarism, vandalism and almost delinquent.”
Judge Roberts adjourned sentencing until October 21st to allow Finn discuss the details of what kind of charity donation he might make. The judge added: “You have to ask yourself do you want to be regarded as an environmental terrorist or barbarian?”
